Tesla’s Remarkable Surge in China Drives Auto Market Revival in August

After passenger vehicle sales dropped in June and July, the Chinese auto market made an impressive recovery in August, marking a return to growth. Tesla, the renowned electric vehicle manufacturer, played a significant role in this revival, nearly doubling its market share in the country during the same month. This surge can be attributed to increased discounts and tax exemptions, which significantly enhanced the appeal of Tesla’s electric cars to Chinese consumers.

In August, passenger auto sales in China experienced a 2.2 percent year-over-year increase, according to data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). Notably, Tesla’s market share in China soared from 7.5 percent in July to an impressive 13.2 percent in August, as reported by Reuters. During August, Tesla achieved remarkable sales figures, selling 64,694 vehicles in China. Additionally, the automaker successfully delivered 65,316 units of the Shanghai-built Model Y within the same month. The success story of Gigafactory Shanghai was equally remarkable, with sales reaching approximately 84,159 vehicles in August, marking a substantial 31-percent increase compared to the previous month’s 64,285 units.

These achievements are particularly significant when contrasted with the challenging months of June and July, where overall auto sales in China saw a 2.9 percent year-over-year drop in June and a 2.6 percent slide in July. However, the tide turned in August, with overall auto sales in China experiencing an impressive 8.5 percent increase from July, totaling 13.38 million units sold in the first eight months of the year. This represents a 1.8 percent increase compared to the same period the previous year.

China’s commitment to new-energy vehicles (NEVs) also played a crucial role in this recovery. In August, China witnessed a remarkable 34.5-percent surge in NEV sales, constituting around 36.9 percent of all car sales.

CPCA Secretary General Cui Dongshu attributed this recovery to declining rates on current home mortgages, which provided a favorable environment for consumers considering auto purchases. Furthermore, the growth in markets outside of China contributed significantly to domestic automakers’ sales figures. Exports in August surged by an impressive 63 percent compared to July, and year-over-year exports witnessed a remarkable 31-percent increase.

This positive news coincided with the launch of Tesla’s refreshed Model 3 in China and other markets. This eagerly awaited vehicle, internally referred to as the Model 3 “Highland” during its development, is available in two enticing trims through Tesla China’s order configurator. Customers can opt for the rear-wheel-drive (RWD) option priced at RMB 259,900 ($35,809.26) or choose the dual-motor, all-wheel-drive (AWD) variant priced at RMB 295,900 ($40,769.37).